Collapsible trail leveler

ABSTRACT

A trailer-type snowmobile trail-smoothening device is described, including a pair of coextensive, elongated runners held in spaced, parallel relation by a plurality of pivotally journaled scraper mechanisms having vertically adjustable scraper blades. The scraper mechanisms, together with the runners, constitute a parallel guide mechanism permitting longitudinal collapsing of the runners into substantially abutting relation. The runners are of channel shape with opposed recesses defining a chamber for the reception of portions of the scraper mechanisms when the runners are in collapsed condition; and the runners are so hingedly jointed along their lengths, and so provided with appropriate separable joints, as to permit folding of the collapsed runners into stacked runner sections for easy transport and storage when the device is not in use.

[72] Inventor `lohln M. Ratcliffe 51 Moiyas Road, Wayne, NJ. [2l] Appl.No. 841,934 [22] Filed July 15,1969 [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 [54]COLLAPSIBLE TRAIL LEVELEIR 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 172/393, 172/787, 280/20, 37/41 [5l] Int. Cl. E02f3/12,B62b13/16,E01h 5/00 [50] Field ofSearch 172/393, 787, 781; 280/20;37/50, 51,41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,300,095 4/1919 Aldrich280/20 1,784,691 l2/l930 Ingalls 172/393 3,276,153 10/1966 Sorensen lll]3,576,214

Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C.Pellegrino Attorney- James J. Cannon ABSTRACT: A trailer-type snowmobiletrail-smoothening device is described, including a pair of coextensive,elongated runners held in spaced, parallel relation by a plurality ofpivotally journaled scraper mechanisms having vertically adjustablescraper blades. The scraper mechanisms, together with the runners,constitute a parallel guide mechanism C l f' [BLE TRAIL LEVELER Thisinvention relates to equipment for leveling and smoothening trails usedby snowmobiles and is directed particularly to an improved trail leveleradapted, in use, to be towed behind a snowmobile or the like towingvehicle for initially grading and smoothening the trail, and which, atthe same time can be foldingly collapsed into a compact package for easyportability and storage when not in use.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a trail leveler ofthe above nature comprising a pair of coextensive elongated runnersmaintained in spaced parallel relation by a plurality of blade mountmechanisms bridging said runners and arranged in spaced relation alongtheir lengths, each blade mount mechanism comprising a verticallyadjustable scraper blade.

Another object of my invention is to provide a trail leveler of thecharacter described wherein the blade-mounting mechanisms have theirinterconnecting ends pivotally journaled to the runners to permitparallel, swinging movement of the runners into collapsed, substantiallyface-toface position, and wherein the runners are so jointed along theirlengths as to permit folding into a plurality of stacked sections aftercollapse of the runners.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a trail leveler of theabove nature wherein the jointed runners are fabricated ofchannel-shaped members, the channel openings of each runner beingopposed to the channel openings of the other runner, and whereinportions of the blade mount mechanism between the runner channelopenings are of such size and shape as to be fully received within andcontained by the chamber defined by the runners when in collapsedcondition.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible trailleveler of the character described wherein the blade mount mechanismseach comprise a removable and reversible scraper blade having opposed,selectively usable straight and serrated edges including Wingnutattachment means having a weighted extension portion operative toprevent self-loosening due to vibration and the like upon use of thetrail leveler.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a trail leveler ofthe character described which will be simple in construction,inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, readily adjustable as toscraper blade mounting and positioning, which can readily be collapsedand folded for transport and storage, and which will be dependable,durable and effective in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a collapsible trail leveler forsnowmobiles embodying the invention, shown attached to a snowmobile foruse in smoothening a snow trail;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view as in FIG. l but showing the trailleveler in raised position in the front where it attaches to thesnowmobile to reduce drag when climbing steep grades;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the trail leveler, as seen from aboveand on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanicaldetails of one of the weighted wingnut devices used for attaching thescraper blades in place;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the trail leveler shown, in partially collapsedcondition;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the trail leveler, shown in fully collapsedcondition;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanicaldetails of one of the blade-mounting mechanisms;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 8 8 ofFIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanicaldetails of another of the blade-mounting mechanisms; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 9 9 ofFIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanicaldetails of yet another of thev blade-mounting mechanisms.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10designates, generally, a collapsible trail leveler embodying theinvention, the same being shown hitched to a snowmobile S in FIGS. 1 and2, for use as hereinbelow more particularly described. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the trail leveler l0, when in use condition, comprises a pair ofelongated runners 1l, 12, held in spaced, parallel relation by rear,central and front scraper mechanisms 13, 14 and is, respectively. Asemirigid hitch mechanism 16 extends from the front of the trail levelerfor connection with the snowmobile S or other towing vehicle as ishereinafter described.

The elongated runner 11 comprises a front runner section 17, a centralrunner section 18 and a rear runner section 19, all of which arepreferably fabricated of channel iron members of U-shaped cross section.The front runner section 17 is formed with an upwardly curved runnersurface portion 20 at its forward end, and is removably connected at itsrearward end with the forward end of the central runner section 18 by aseparable hinge 21. The rearward end of the central runner section 18 ishingingly connected with the forward end of the rear runner section 19by hinge 22; and the rearward end of said rear runner section has itsrunner edge portion upwardly curved, as indicated in 23.

The elongated runner 12 comprises a front runner section 24, somewhatlonger than the front runner section 17 of the runner l1, a centralrunner section 25 of substantially the same length as the central runnersection 18 of runner 1l, and a rear runner section 26 of somewhatshorter length than that of the rear runner section 19 of runner l1. Theforward end of the front runner section 24 is upwardly curved, asindicated in 27, and is hingingly joined at its rearward end with theforward end of the central runner section 25 by hinge 28. A separablehinge 29 joins the rearward end of the central runner section 25 withthe forward end of the rear runner section 26. The rearward end of therear runner section 26 has its runner edge curved upwardly, as indicatedat 30. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front and rear sections of theelongated runners of 11 and 12, are provided with interior verticalreinforcing bars 32 for strengthening purposes.

The rear, central and front scraper mechanisms 13, 14 and l5 compriserear, central and front upper support brackets 33, 34 and 35respectively, each of which is of shallow U-shape disposed in inventedrelation above and between the elongated runners 1l and l2, and each ofwhich is provided with opposed, outwardly extending ears 36 and 37,pivotally attached to opposed portions of the upper rails of theirrespective rear, central and front runner sections 19, 26; 18, 25, and17, 24 as by pivot pin pairs 38 and 39.

Each of the support brackets 33, 34 and 35 has welded or otherwisesecured in spaced parallel relation within and between the outer endsthereof an intermediate support bar 40, journaling therebetween a pairof spaced blade adjustment wheels 4l, 42, fixed on respective axialshafts 43, 44. The peripheral edges of the blade adjustment wheels 4l,42, are preferably knurled to facilitate turning in blade adjustment, asis hereinbelow more particularly described.

The rear scraper mechanism 13 further comprises a blade mount 45 (seeFIGS. 3 and 7) comprising a horizontal plate 46 and a vertical dependingplate 47, said depending plate being either welded to or integrally castwith said horizontal plate. The upper surface of the vertical plate 46has welded or otherwise fixed thereupon a pair of spaced bosses 48 whichare centrally bored and threaded, along with said plate, to threadinglyreceive the threaded lower end portions 49 of axial shafts 43, 44 of theassociated blade adjustment wheels 4l and 42. As is illustrated in FIG.7. the lower or outer ends of the threaded shafts 43 and 44 are headed.as indicated at 50, to limit downward adjustment of the associated blademount.

A flat scraper blade 5l., having a serrated edge 52, is removablyattached against the forward surface of the vertical plate 47 of theblade mount 65, to which end a pair of bolt openings 53 is providedalong said scraper blade for alignment with bolt openings 56 in thevertical plate 47 for the reception 5 therethrough of a pair of bolts 55secured in place by wingnuts 56. The wingnuts 56 (only one illustratedin FIG. 7) comprise opposed wings 57 and 58, wing 58 of which hasswingably attached thereto one end of an elongated wingnut extensionportion 59 as by pivot pin 60. The Wingnut extension portion 59 iscentrally weighted, as indicated at 6l, and is adapted to be swung intobridging relation with respect to the opposed wings 57 and 58, asindicated by the broken line representation thereof in FIG. 4, tofacilitate tightening of the l 5 wingnut. In use, the weighted Wingnutextension portion 59 will be allowed to fall to the down position, asillustrated by the full line representation thereof in FIG. 4, tominimize the possibility of self-loosening due to vibration, that is, tomaintain the scraper blades securely attached to their respective blademounts during use of the trail leveler.

The central scraper mechanism I4 has associated therewith a centralblade mount 62, (see FIG. 8), comprising a horizontal plate 63 and avertical plate 64. The vertical plate 64 is yieldingly retained independing relation with respect to 25 the forward edge of the horizontalplate 63 by means of a plurality (only one illustrated in FIG. 8), ofspring-tensioned hinges 65 secured as by bolt 66. The hinges 65 may beof the type commonly used on self-closing screen doors, being equippedwith torque springs adjustable as to tension for 3() adjustment, as maybe required, with respect to the reactive force supplied by the hingesupon use of the device. The forward surface or face of the verticalplate 64 has removably secured thereto by bolts and wingnuts 66 a flatscraper blade 67 having a downwardly directed, serrated cutting edge 3568. It will be understood that, in use, if the surface being scraped bythe scraper blade 67 is too hard for scraping, the resiliency affordedby the spring-tensioned hinges permits sufcient backward bending of saidscraper blade to allow passage over such areas.

The front scraper mechanism l5 has associated therewith a front blademount 69 comprising a horizontal plate 70 and an angularly rearwardlyextendingly front plate 7l, attached to and extending downwardly to therear from the forward end of said horizontal plate. End support plate 72welded or otherwise affixed against the opposed ends of the front blademount 69 enhance the rigidity of the structure. The flat scraper blade73, having a serrated lower edge 7d, is similarly affixed against thefront surface of the angular front plate 7l 50 by bolts 55 and wingnuts56.

The semirigid hitch mechanism 16, as is best illustrated in FIG. 3,comprises a pair of hook eyes 75, 76, secured, respectively, to upperfront end portions of the front runner sections 17 and 24, respectively.A central chain extends 5 loosely between the hook eyes 75 and 76. Sidechain 78 and 79, extend one each from the hook eyes 75, 76,respectively, and pass through identical lengths of rigid conduit 86 and6l to terminate at their outer ends in hitch hooks 52 and 83,respectively. The hitch hooks 82 and 83 are adapted to be 60 releasablyattached to a pair of hook eyes forming part of the hitch plate orbracket 84 secured to the snowmobile S or other towing vehicle, asillustrated in FIG. l. As illustrated in FIG. 2,'i the leveler l0 can beclose coupled to a towing vehicle hitch plate or bracket 86 with theforward end elevated by hooking 65 portions of the central chain 77 withrespect to the towing vehicles hitch plate. Close-coupled elevated frontend towing of the trail leveler is often desirable or necessary toreduce drag when climbing steep grades. When so utilized, the hitchmembers and 8l will be folded backwardly over the top 70 rails of theirrespective elongated runners il and l2, and secured by hooking intoanchor loops 35 and 86 provided for this purpose.

In use of the trail leveler as illustrated in FIG. l, by way of examplebeing shown towed by a snowmobile S, the successive 75 scraper blades73, 67 and 5l, on their respective front blade mount 69, (being a rigidangled mount of about 30 with respect to the vertical), central blademount 62, (being a sprung vertical mount) and rear blade mount 45,(being a rigid vertical mount), serve to remove the high points frombumps in the path of travel and use the removed snow to fill in the lowspots. As hereinabove described, all of the scraper blades comprise astraight edge along one side and a serrated edge along the other side;and the mounting holes are so symmetrically arranged that either edgemay be used merely by turning the blade over and securing it in place.As illustrated in FIGS. 7, 3 and 9, it will be seen that the attachmentwingnuts 56, by virtue of their depending weighted extension portions59, prevent loosening of the blade-mounting bolts 55 during use of thetrail leveler. The height of the blade mounts 69, 62 and 45, and theconsequent vertical positions of their associated scraper blades will becontrolled by their associated pairs of blade adjustment wheels 4l and42. The degree of adjustment of vertical adjustment afforded by thepairs of blade adjustment wheels 41 and 42, is preferably such as tomove the scraping edge of the scraper blades between a position aboutone-half inch above the level of the runner surfaces and a distance ofabout threefourths inch below the runners.

While the trail leveler is illustrated herein with the three differenttypes of blade mounts 45, 62 and 69, as described above, it will beunderstood that they could alternatively be of uniform construction orutilized in a different sequence from that illustrated, depending uponthe condition of the trail being leveled. It is also to be understoodthat while the trail leveler is illustrated and described herein for usein leveling a snow trail, it is well adapted to be used for scraping andleveling dirt and sand trails.

The semirigid hitch mechanism 16 permits flexibility while towing but atthe same time prevents the trail leveler from overrunning the towingvehicle and damaging the vehicles track when going down steep grades.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen how the trail leveler l0folds into a compact package for storage when not in use. FIG. 5illustrates the first step in the folding sequence, wherein theelongated runner assembly ll is pushed backwardly with respect toelongated runner assembly l2 to be folded flat thereagainst. Upon suchfolding it will be understood that the rear, intermediate and frontscraper mechanisms 13, le and l5, respectively, will have turned abouttheir respective pivot pins 38 and 39, and that the blade mounts 45, 62and 69 and their associated scraper blades will be of such width andlength as to permit their being turned and fully received within theinterior recess defined by said elongated runner assemblies. Asillustrated in FIG. l, recesses 42a, @2b and 42e are provided in theupper flange portions of elongated runner l2, and recesses 43a, 43h and43C are provided in the upper flange portions of elongated runner 11 toaccommodate for the passage of respective axial shafts 43, 44 in theirextension therethrough when the device is in collapsed or foldedcondition. It will be noted that upon the first fold having beencompleted, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the respective lengths of the frontrunner sections 17 and 24 and the central runner sections I8 and 25 aresuch that their hinged junctures will be in register or alignment. Theseparable hinge 21 between the front runner section 17 and the centralrunner section 18 of the elongated runner assembly ll is provided with aremovable pintle 87, and the seperable hinge 29 joining the rear runnersection 26 with the central runner section 25 of the elongated runnerassembly l2 is provided with that removable pintle 88, said pintleslbeing held captive to prevent loss by respective chains S9 and 90secured at their remote ends to nearby portions of their associatedrunners. To complete the folding into fully collapsed condition asillustrated in FIG. 6, the pintle 87 will be with drawn, permittingfolding back of the front runner section 24 against the central runnersection 25 about the hinge 28. Next, the pintle 88 will be removed topermit folding back of the rear runner section i9 against the centralrunner section w about the hinge 22. Handles 91 and 92 fixed along thetop rails of the central runner sections il@ and 25 facilitate carryingthe fully collapsed trail leveler.

I claim:

1. A collapsible trail leveler for snowmobiles and the like comprising,in combination, a pair of coextensive, elongated runner members,parallel guide mechanism for maintaining said runner members in spaced,parallel relation, said parallel guide mechanism comprising a pluralityof mutually spaced scraper blade mechanisms bridging said runners, saidscraper blade mechanisms each comprising an upper support bracketpivotally joumaled between said runners, a scraper blade, and verticallyadjustable blade mounting means securing said blade to said supportbracket, said runners being swingable into substantially s ide-bysidecollapsed condition for storage of the trail leveler when not is use,said elongated runners being of channel shape along their lengths withthe channel recesses facing one another, said scraper blade being ofsuch size and shape as to be receivable within the chamber defined bysaid recesses when said runner members are in collapsed condition.

2. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim l wherein each ofsaid elongated runners comprises a plurality of runner sections, theabutting ends of which are jointed at positions between mutuallysuccessive pairs of said scraper blade mechanisms, opposed pairs of saidjoints being in transverse alignment when said runners are in collapsedcondition, each pair of such aligned joints constituting a separablehinge and a nonseparable hinge permitting sectional folding of thecollapsed runners into a compact stacked assemblage for storage.

3. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 2 including asemirigid hitch mechanism secured at one end to the forward ends of saidrunner members and having means at the other end for bitching to atowing vehicle.

4. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim l wherein said bladeattaching means comprises a pair of bolts and cooperative wingnuts, eachWingnut having an elongated Wingnut extension portion swingably attachedat one end to one of the wingnut wings and operative to be swung betweenbridging and outwardly-extending relation with respect to the Wingnutwings.

5. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim l wherein each ofsaid scraper blades comprises a straight edge at one side and a serratededge at the opposite side.

6. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 5 wherein one of saidvertically adjustable blade mounting means comprises a rigid verticalplate f`or supporting its scraper blade in faceto-face relation, whereinanother of said blade mounting means comprises an angularly directedplate for supporting its scraper blade in face-to-face relation, andwherein yet another of said blade mounting means comprises a resilientlyyieldingly mounted vertical plate for supporting its scraper blade inface-to-face relation.

7. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 6 wherein saidseparable hinges each comprise a removable pintle permitting separationofthe hinge leaves.

8. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 7 wherein saidvertically adjustable blade mounting means comprising a pair of spacedblade adjustment wheels having axial shafts journaled with respect tosaid upper support bracket and threaded downwardly extending portionsthreadingly received in its associated blade mounting means.

9. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 8 including asemirigid hitch mechanism secured at -one end of the forward ends ofsaid runner members and having means at the other end for bitching to atowing vehicle.

1. A collapsible trail leveler for snowmobiles and the like comprising,in combination, a pair of coextensive, elongated runner members,parallel guide mechanism for maintaining said runner members in spaced,parallel relation, said parallel guide mechanism comprising a pluralityof mutually spaced scraper blade mechanisms bridging said runners, saidscraper blade mechanisms each comprising an upper support bracketpivotally journaled between said runners, a scraper blade, andvertically adjustable blade mounting means securing said blade to saidsupport bracket, said runners being swingable into substantiallyside-by-side collapsed condition for storage of the trail leveler whennot is use, said elongated runners being of channel shape along theirlengths with the channel recesses facing one another, said scraper bladebeing of such size and shape as to be receivable within the chamberdefined by said recesses when said runner members are in collapsedcondition.
 2. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 1 whereineach of said elongated runners comprises a plurality of runner sections,the abutting ends of which are jointed at positions between mutuallysuccessive pairs of said scraper blade mechanisms, opposed pairs of saidjoints being in transverse alignment when said runners are in collapsedcondition, each pair of such aligned joints constituting a separablehinge and a nonseparable hinge permitting sectional folding of thecollApsed runners into a compact stacked assemblage for storage.
 3. Acollapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 2 including a semirigidhitch mechanism secured at one end to the forward ends of said runnermembers and having means at the other end for hitching to a towingvehicle.
 4. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid blade attaching means comprises a pair of bolts and cooperativewingnuts, each wingnut having an elongated wingnut extension portionswingably attached at one end to one of the wingnut wings and operativeto be swung between bridging and outwardly-extending relation withrespect to the wingnut wings.
 5. A collapsible trail leveler as definedin claim 1 wherein each of said scraper blades comprises a straight edgeat one side and a serrated edge at the opposite side.
 6. A collapsibletrail leveler as defined in claim 5 wherein one of said verticallyadjustable blade mounting means comprises a rigid vertical plate forsupporting its scraper blade in face-to-face relation, wherein anotherof said blade mounting means comprises an angularly directed plate forsupporting its scraper blade in face-to-face relation, and wherein yetanother of said blade mounting means comprises a resiliently yieldinglymounted vertical plate for supporting its scraper blade in face-to-facerelation.
 7. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid separable hinges each comprise a removable pintle permittingseparation of the hinge leaves.
 8. A collapsible trail leveler asdefined in claim 7 wherein said vertically adjustable blade mountingmeans comprising a pair of spaced blade adjustment wheels having axialshafts journaled with respect to said upper support bracket and threadeddownwardly extending portions threadingly received in its associatedblade mounting means.
 9. A collapsible trail leveler as defined in claim8 including a semirigid hitch mechanism secured at one end of theforward ends of said runner members and having means at the other endfor hitching to a towing vehicle.